An officer raised a hand. Thor acknowledged him.
He introduced himself as George Hardwick and said, “We’re all aware that the Fairy Tale Killer murdered a doctor and escaped from Kansas. We’ve heard there is speculation that he’s here. Do you have any reason—of which we’re not aware—to think this man might have come to Alaska? From what we’ve seen, there’s no indication that the man was ever in Alaska or knows anything about Seward or Black Bear Island.”
“There is no forensic reason at this time to believe that the Fairy Tale Killer has come here,” Thor said. “Kansas is a long way away. The man wouldn’t have had a full day to reach Alaska and he’s being sought by law enforcement agencies everywhere. Our victims’ display doesn’t resemble the displays of the Fairy Tale Killer in any way.” He hesitated. “However, in theory, it is possible that he’s come here. It is possible that his end goal in displaying his previous victims wasn’t to make them beautiful, but to cause sensationalism and earn a moniker. I believe the press has already dubbed this killer the ‘Media Monster.’ We all know that talk on the street compares the positioning of Miss Carson on Black Bear Island to that of the Black Dahlia—impossible to see her without that image coming to mind. As to Natalie’s murder, we think he had something in mind. Unfortunately, there have been a number of decapitation murders in history, so we’re not sure if he is or isn’t going for a theme that has to do with history, or perhaps movies—or gruesome historical murders that have been portrayed in movies.”
“You mean, you really think this guy—this Tate Morley guy—might have gotten up here?” another officer asked.
“No, there’s nothing that says that it is him. But, there’s also nothing that says that it’s not him. At this point, anything is speculation. We have to keep our eyes open, be exceptionally vigilant and, yes, warn young women,” Thor said.
“We’ll be doing that in a press conference this afternoon,” Enfield told the assembled crowd. “Right now, we’re keeping eyes on the Wickedly Weird Production Company, and—to a lesser extent—the folks who were to be interviewed on the island. Unless all three men with the theatrical company suddenly became sickly homicidal together, they’re in the clear—background checks on the three come up with nothing but clean slates. We’re keeping an eye on them for their safety.”
“You have all received sheets on Tate Morley. They have gone out across the country,” Thor said. “He is capable of being a physical chameleon. He escaped one of his scenes dressed as a nun, one as a clown, and another as simply stoned out. Again, there’s nothing that suggests he did come here, but, again, be vigilant.”
When the meeting was over, they spoke with Brennan and Enfield briefly.
Enfield believed that Thor was right; they needed a representative on the island from now until it was determined to be unnecessary.
“Get techs checking up on Marc Kimball for me, too, please, will you, Director?” Thor asked.
“Kimball?” Enfield was surprised.
“He’s back on the island,” Jackson said.
“I know, of course. Detective Brennan told me that Kimball arrived at the police station soon after the news of a death on the island reached him. Very distraught. You realize that legally, it’s all very complicated. He owns the island. Wickedly Weird rented the island. We can claim parts of it as a crime scene, but—without brute un-American force—we are beholden to him to cooperate as far as searches and use of the Mansion and Alaska Hut are concerned. Legally, I’m not sure what happened with the Wickedly Weird Productions crew’s contract. Best at the moment to get done what we need to get done with the cooperation of Wickedly Weird and Marc Kimball.”
“Sir, with all due respect,” Jackson said, “we understand that. But it is curious that the man showed up so quickly.”
“Amen,” Detective Brennan muttered.
“I simply believe that his whereabouts immediately before the deaths would be nice to know,” Thor said.
“Absolutely. We are running a time check on Kimball,” Enfield agreed.
“When he’s in Seward, he usually heads out to the island immediately—that’s what the tabloids tell us,” Detective Brennan said. “So where was he when the killing was going on?”
“I’m pretty damned sure you’re barking up the wrong tree with Kimball,” Enfield said. “A man like that...odd behavior would have been reported by now.”
“Describe ‘odd behavior,’” Thor murmured.
“Criminal behavior,” Jackson said.